What are Aptamers?
Aptamers are chemically synthesized short strands of RNA (oligonucleotides) that adopt highly specific three-dimensional conformations. Over 10,000,000,000,000,000 different aptamers can be synthesized in a test tube using the SELEX process. SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands of Exponential enrichment) is a combinatorial chemistry methodology in which vast numbers of oligonucleotides are screened rapidly for specific sequences that have appropriate binding affinities and specificities toward any target. Thus, novel molecules are created that can either mimic or prevent specific molecules from binding to their receptors much like antibody. Their target affinity equals or exceeds that of specific antibodies.

Anti-VEGF Aptamer Preclinical Studies:
The aim of using an anti-VEGF aptamer for treating neovascular AMD is to neutralize VEGF in the eye by binding to VEGF and preventing it from binding into its receptor. The anti-VEGF aptamer has demonstrated efficacy in several in vitro and in vivo models.